THE BRITISH EXPEDITION IN WEST AFRICA.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7214, 27 November 1888, Page 5

THE BRITISH EXPEDITION IN WEST AFRICA.

m "' 500 NATIVES KILLED. The Boyal Mail steamer Teneriffe, which Hxived In England recently from the Wett Com! oi Africa, brings details of Jm&pmxiaßS of the British force sent mm the Gold Coast to punish the murderers of Captain Dalrymple, the Britfah Commissioner there. There was wrtFeixty killed on the British side, and eweueuiy are believed to have lost over «**• The murder of Captain Dalrymple took place on the 11th April. One of the ■tribes in the interior having bad a dispute with a neighbouring tribe, made a descent -to the chief town of the latter, and killed seventeen of the inhabitants. Captain Dalrymple, accompanied by a force of fifty - Hoosms, went to enquire into the matter, "and Invited the chiefs to attend,a 'palaver," They declined to attend, however, and Captain Dalrymple entered the towgi and arrested several of the head men. While the British force were leaving the town with the men in custody, they ■Were fired upon from an ambush of the Datives, and Captain Dalrymple and two ! of the Houssas were killed on the spot. The punishing!orce consisted of 175 Houssa I troops under the command of Captain C. E. , Akers and Commissioner C. R. Williams. The expedition marched to the Krepi country, in which the outrage had taken . place, and en route they were enabled to enlist a large number of friendly natives ac allies, so the total force ultimately •jaaaoerea about men. They marched to attack two towns close to each other, and known together as Taviewe. The eattaea were prepared to receive them, and as they approached the first town it was found that the enemy occupied the josh on each side of the road in great ! farce. After a smart skirmish the enemy began to retreat, followed by the British tfowe, who used four 7-pounder guns and a rocket tube. After an obstinate resistance, the enemy were driven from the bosh. They made so stand at the entrance to the town, and the British force entered with very little opposition. The second town was also taken in a few hoars. ■On the British side ten Hoassas and about fifty of the allies were killed. The enemy, however, suffered severely, and it was estimated that at least 500 were killed. ! The British took th* two chiefs of J the towns, and the mother of one V "8f the deceased kings. Captain Akers > and Commissioner Williams escaped without injury. A large number of the eaemy came spina starving state and •wurreadered. The prisoners were taken to Accra and were tried for ■ being con-v-Ssrned in- the murder of Captain Dalrraipto. The jury, however, thought that the prosecution bad no jurisdiction, and the prisoners were acquitted of the capital charge. They were then detained as political prisoners, and were sent to ' Elmina Castle, the two chiefs in irons, and nader a strong guard.